Grandads naval history research

[Scatt69]

Hi all

I'm trying to research my grandads naval history, before i take the last resort of travelling to the National Archives. I wonder if anyone knows of any websites that contain WW2 crew lists or similar. i don't have too muh information to go on. Just that my grandad was stationed at Scapa Flow for a while and was involved in Russian Convoys and at some point later was on North Atlantic convoys.

By the way grandads name was Samuel Joseph Scattergood of Hucknall, Nottinghamshire. i don't have a service number.

kind regards,

Paul Scattergood

[Bilge]

I am not sure if you have already searched this site but maybe a good place to start.

http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/index.html

http://www.naval-history.net/index.htm

http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/UKPages.htm

Why not publish any ships he served on here perhaps you will get a better response.

[DeeBoneham]

Hi

If you are the nearest living relative then you could get his service record.

Dee

[Cinirel]

Hi Paul

Do you have details of your Grandads parents? I feel we coild be related
, albeit distantly.

Best regards

[Scatt69]

Hi Cinirel

sorry, not been on here for a while. Yes i have this line of my tree traced back many generations. If you let me know where we are related i will look into it.

As a follow up to the original post i was able to order grandad's service history.

Cheers, Paul

[RRTB]

Paul, have you ever considered applying for the Arctic Star? If you approach the MoD Medal Office and give them your grandfather's details you might find that they will issue it.

From the wikipedia entry:

The first Arctic Stars were presented to forty World War Two veterans on 19 March 2013, in London. As many as 120,000 veterans or their next-of-kin are believed to be eligible for the Arctic Star.

It's worth a go if your grandfather was north of the Arctic Circle.

RRTB

[Scatt69]

Thanks for that RRTB. I hadn't heard about it but will definitely apply. Although grandad was mostly on escort duties aboard HMS Chiddingfold, i do know that he was part of operation Archery. I'm not sure if he actually fulfils the criteria for the medal but i will get in touch with my aunt, who is next of kin, and apply.

Cheers, Paul

[RRTB]

I'm sure you've seen this, but my curiosity was piqued to find out a bit about the ship!

http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DE-Chiddingfold.htm

December 1942 would seem possibly rather interesting for you.... mentions Russian Convoys, and Kola inlet is as far as I can tell at Murmansk?

Thing is, you can always apply to the Medal Office anyway; after all, they can only say yes or no once they've completed their checks in the archives. I was lucky - I found out by chance that my father was entitled to a GSM which he never applied for, and I received it last November.

RRTB